Fiber optic cable spool

ABSTRACT

Installing an optical cable at an installation location includes routing a second end of the optical cable towards the installation location; wrapping the second end of the optical cable around a portion of a cable spool at the installation location; attaching the second end of the optical cable to a connector holder disposed at the cable spool; and turning a crank arm to wind the cable spool, thereby winding slack length of the optical cable around the drum. Some types of crank arms are removable from the cable spool. Other types of crank arms are collapsible relative to the cable spool.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.62/233,673, filed Sep. 28, 2015, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Passive optical networks are becoming prevalent in part because serviceproviders want to deliver high bandwidth communication capabilities tocustomers. Passive optical networks are a desirable choice fordelivering high-speed communication data because they may not employactive electronic devices, such as amplifiers and repeaters, between acentral office and a subscriber termination. The absence of activeelectronic devices may decrease network complexity and/or cost and mayincrease network reliability.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network 100 deploying passive fiber optic lines. Asshown, the network 100 can include a central office 101 that connects anumber of end subscribers 105 (also called end users 105 herein) in anetwork. The central office 101 can additionally connect to a largernetwork such as the Internet (not shown) and a public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN). The network 100 can also include fiber distribution hubs(FDHs) 103 having one or more optical splitters (e.g., 1-to-8 splitters,1-to-16 splitters, or 1-to-32 splitters) that generate a number ofindividual fibers that may lead to the premises of an end user 105. Thevarious lines of the network 100 can be aerial or housed withinunderground conduits.

The portion of the network 100 that is closest to central office 101 isgenerally referred to as the F1 region, where F1 is the “feeder fiber”from the central office 101. The portion of the network 100 closest tothe end users 105 can be referred to as an F2 portion of network 100.The network 100 includes a plurality of break-out locations 102 at whichbranch cables are separated out from the main cable lines. Branch cablesare often connected to drop terminals 104 that include connectorinterfaces for facilitating coupling of the fibers of the branch cablesto a plurality of different subscriber locations 105.

SUMMARY

Some aspects of the disclosure are directed to a method of installing anoptical cable at an installation location. The method includes routing asecond end of the optical cable towards the installation location;wrapping the second end of the optical cable around a portion of a cablespool at the installation location; attaching the second end of theoptical cable to a connector holder disposed at the cable spool; andturning a crank arm to wind the cable spool, thereby winding slacklength of the optical cable around the drum.

In certain implementations, the cable spool includes a drum extendingaxially outwardly from a mounting plate and a first flange extendingradially outwardly from the drum at an opposite end of the drum from themounting plate. The first flange has a first surface facing towards themounting plate and a second surface facing away from the mounting plate.

In certain implementations, the connector holder is disposed at thesecond surface of the first flange

In certain implementations, the method also includes wrapping the secondend of the optical cable about a notch defined in a first flange of thecable spool so that the second end is disposed at an opposite side ofthe first flange from the drum.

In certain implementations, the optical cable has a first end coupled toa network location.

In some implementations, the method includes attaching the crank arm tothe cable spool. In certain implementations, the method also includesdetaching the crank arm from the mounting panel prior to attaching thecrank arm to the cable spool. In certain examples, attaching the crankarm to the cable spool includes attaching the crank arm to the drum. Incertain examples, attaching the crank arm to the cable spool includesattaching the crank arm to the first flange.

In other implementations, the method includes moving the crank arm froma collapsed position to an access position prior to turning the crankarm, wherein moving the crank arm does not include detaching the crankarm from the cable spool. In certain implementations, moving the crankarm includes pivoting the crank arm relative to the cable spool.

In certain implementations, the connector holder includes an opticaladapter having a first port and an oppositely disposed second port.Attaching the second end of the optical cable to the connector holderincludes plugging the second end of the optical cable into the firstport.

In certain examples, the method also includes plugging a connectorizedend of a patch cable into the second port; and routing another end ofthe patch cable to a subscriber interface device.

In certain examples, the method also includes unplugging the second endof the optical cable from the first port; unwinding a length of thesecond end of the optical cable from the cable spool; and plugging thesecond end of the optical cable into the subscriber interface device.

In certain implementations, the method includes attaching a housing overthe cable spool and the optical cable after the optical cable has beenwound onto the cable spool. The housing defines a port through which theoptical cable exits an interior of the housing.

In some examples, the method includes removing the crank arm prior toattaching the housing over the cable spool. In other examples, themethod includes collapsing the crank arm prior to attaching the housingover the cable spool.

In certain implementations, the installation location is an exterior ofa subscriber premises, the optical cable is a drop cable, and thenetwork location is a drop terminal.

In certain implementations, the installation location is an interior ofa subscriber premises and the optical cable includes an optical fiber.

In certain implementations, the method includes locking the cable spoolin one rotational position when the slack length of the optical cablehas been wound.

In accordance with other aspects of the disclosure, an optical cableslack storage system includes a mounting plate; a cable spool; aconnector holder disposed on the cable spool; and a crank arm configuredto be coupled to the cable spool. The cable spool extends along an axisof rotation from a first end to a second end. The first end is coupledto the mounting plate. The cable spool is configured to rotate relativeto the mounting plate about the axis of rotation. The connector holderis configured to rotate in unison with the cable spool. A user can windan optical fiber around the cable spool by turning the crank arm.

In some implementations, the crank arm is removable from the cablespool. In certain examples, the mounting plate includes a mountinglocation configured to hold the crank arm when the crank arm is detachedfrom the cable spool.

In other implementations, the crank arm is movable between a collapsedposition and an access position without detaching from the cable spool.In certain examples, the crank arm is pivotable between the collapsedposition and the access position.

In certain implementations, the connector holder includes an opticaladapter having a first port and an oppositely facing second port.

In certain implementations, the cable spool includes a drum and a flangeextending radially outwardly from the drum at the second end of thecable spool. The connector holder is disposed on the flange. In certainexamples, the flange defines a notch aligned with the connector holder.

In certain implementations, the connector holder is disposed at thesecond end of the cable spool.

In certain implementations, a housing that is configured to mount to themounting plate to cover the cable spool. The housing defines a portthrough which an optical cable can exit an interior of the housing.

In certain examples, the housing has a depth that fits about the cablespool, but not about the crank arm when the crank arm is attached to thecable spool.

In certain examples, the housing has a depth that fits about the cablespool when the crank arm is collapsed, but not when the crank arm isdisposed in the access position.

In certain examples, the housing includes a seal arrangement to providean environmental seal between the housing and the mounting panel so thatthe cable spool is sealed within the housing.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in thedescription that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individualfeatures and to combinations of features. It is to be understood thatboth the forgoing general description and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictiveof the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosedherein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the description, illustrate several aspects of the presentdisclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 shows a passive fiber optic network;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an example optical cable slack storagesystem;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an optical cable being wound on theoptical cable slack storage system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the optical cable slack storagesystem of FIG. 3 with a crank arm disposed in a collapsed position; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the optical cable slack storage system ofthe above figures with a housing mounted over the cable spool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentdisclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of installing an opticalcable at an installation location. In particular, the present disclosureis directed to storing excess length of the optical cable at theinstallation location. A free end of the optical cable is wrapped aroundan optical cable spool and positioned at a connector holder. A crank armis moved to an access position and turned by a user to rotate the cablespool, thereby winding the optical cable about the cable spool. In someimplementations, the crank arm is attached to the cable spool to windthe optical cable and then removed. In other implementations, the crankarm is movable to a collapsed position after the cable spool is wound.

FIG. 2 illustrates an optical cable slack storage system 106 including amounting plate 110, a cable spool 120, a connector holder 130, and acrank arm 140. The cable spool 120 extends along an axis of rotationA_(R) (FIG. 3) from a first end to a second end. The cable spool 120 isconfigured to rotate relative to the mounting plate 110 about the axisof rotation A_(R). The first end of the cable spool 120 is coupled tothe mounting plate 110. The connector holder 130 is disposed on thecable spool 120 and is configured to rotate in unison with the cablespool 120.

A user can wind an optical cable around the cable spool 120 by turningthe crank arm 140. In some implementations, the crank arm 140 isdetachable from the cable spool 120. In such implementations, a userattaches the crank arm 140 to the cable spool 120 to wind the opticalcable about the cable spool 120. In certain implementations, themounting plate 110 includes a mounting location 115 configured to holdthe detached crank arm 140 associated with the cable spool 120. In otherimplementations, a user can carry the same crank arm 140 between variousinstallation locations and use the crank arm 140 to wind each of thecable spools 120 at the installation sites.

In some implementations, the crank arm 140 has a keyed end that slotsinto a keyed passageway defined by the cable spool 120 in a particularrotational configuration. Accordingly, rotation of the crank arm 140yields rotation of the cable spool 120. In other implementations, thecrank arm 140 defines the keyed passageway and the cable spool 120defines a keyed protrusion. In still other implementations, the crankarm 140 otherwise removably attaches to the cable spool 120 so as tocause the cable spool 120 to rotate with the crank arm.

In other implementations, the crank arm 140 is not deattachable from thecable spool 120, but is movable between a collapsed position and anaccess position. For example, one end of the crank arm 140 may bepivotally attached to the cable spool 120 so that the crank arm 140 canpivot between the collapsed position and the access position. Moving thecrank arm 140 to the access position facilitates turning the crank arm140, which causes the cable spool 120 to rotate. Moving the crank arm140 to the collapsed position reduces the depth of the optical cableslack storage system 106.

In other implementations, the crank arm 140 can be dettachable from thecable spool 120 and also movable between the collapsed position and theaccess position.

FIG. 3 illustrates the optical cable slack storage system 106 with thecrank arm 140 attached to the cable spool 120 and/or disposed in anaccess position. A second end of an optical cable 150 has been partiallywound around the cable spool 120. A free end 155 of the optical cable150 has been routed to the connector holder 130 and is held thereat.Accordingly, the free end 155 of the optical cable 150 rotates in unisonwith the cable spool 120 while any excess length of the optical cable150 is wound onto the cable spool 120.

In some implementations, the cable spool 120 includes a drum and aflange 122 extending radially outwardly from the drum at the second endof the cable spool 120. In certain implementations, the cable spool 120also includes a second flange extending radially outwardly from the drumat the first end of the cable spool 120. In some implementations, theconnector holder 130 is disposed at the flange 122. In otherimplementations, the connector holder 130 is disposed at the secondflange. In still other implementations, the connector holder 130 isotherwise disposed at the cable spool 120.

In the example shown, the connector holder 130 is disposed at anoutwardly-facing surface of the flange 122. In certain examples, theflange 122 defines a notch 125 through which the optical cable 150 canbe routed to enable the second end 155 to reach the connector holder130. In certain implementations, the notch 125 aligns with the connectorholder 130. In certain implementations, the notch 125 is sufficientlydeep to enable the second end 155 of the optical cable 150 to becontained fully within an outer diameter of the flange 122.

In some implementations, the connector holder 130 includes an opticaladapter defining a first port 131 and a second, oppositely-facing port132. In certain examples, the first port 131 aligns with the notch 125in the flange 122. In some examples, the optical adapter 130 isconfigured to receive single-fiber optical connectors (e.g., LCconnectors, SC connectors, LX.5 connectors, etc.). In other examples,the optical adapter 130 is configured to receive multi-fiber opticalconnectors (e.g., MPO connectors, etc.). In still other implementations,the connector holder 130 includes latch fingers configured to snap overthe second end 155 of the optical cable 150.

As shown in FIG. 3, the crank arm 140 is configured to be turned in adirection C. For example, the crank arm 140 can include a handle 142that a user grasps to turn the crank arm 140. Turning the crank arm 140in the direction C causes the cable spool 120 to rotate in the directionW. Rotating the cable spool 120 in the direction W causes the opticalcable 150 to wind about the drum of the cable spool 120 while the secondend 155 of the optical cable 150 is held at the connector holder 130. Incertain implementations, the cable spool 120 can be rotationally lockedrelative to the mounting panel when the excess length of the cable spoolhas been wound.

In some implementations, the crank arm 140 can be detached from thecable spool 120 when the excess length of the optical cable 150 has beenwound. Accordingly, the excess length is stored on the cable spool 120.In certain examples, the crank arm 140 can be stored on the mountingpanel 110 at the mounting location 115.

In other implementations, the crank arm 140 can be moved relative to thecable spool 120 to the collapsed position. When in the collapsedposition, the crank arm 140 remains attached to the cable spool 120, butthe depth of the overall system 106 is reduced. For example, the crankarm 140 may couple to the cable spool 120 at a pivot end 145. When inthe access position, at least part of the crank arm 140 extends alongthe axis of rotation AR outwardly from the cable spool 120. When in thecollapsed position, the crank arm 140 is pivoted about the pivot ball145 to lay against the flange 122 (see FIG. 4).

In some implementations, the optical cable slack storage system 106 isconfigured for outside use. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates a housing160 coupled to the mounting panel 110 to cover the cable spool 120. Thehousing 160 is configured to cooperate with the mounting panel 110 toenvironmentally seal an interior of the housing 160. The housing 160also defines a port 165 through which the optical cable 150 extends toexit the housing 160.

In some implementations, the housing 160 is sufficiently deep to coverthe cable spool 120 while the crank arm 140 is disposed in the collapsedposition, but not when the crank arm 140 is disposed in the accessposition. In other implementations, the housing 160 is sufficiently deepto cover the cable spool 120 when the crank arm 140 is detached from thecable spool 120, but not when the crank arm 140 is attached to the cablespool 120.

In use, a user routes an optical cable 150 (e.g., one or more opticalfibers optionally surrounded by a jacket) to the cable spool 120. Thefree end 155 of the optical cable 150 is at least partially wrappedaround the cable spool 120 and positioned at the connector holder 130.For example, the free end 155 can be routed through the notch 125defined by the cable spool 120. In an example, positioning the free end155 at the connector holder 130 includes plugging the free end 155 intoa first port 131 of an optical adapter acting as the connector holder130.

In some implementations, the crank arm 140 is removed from the mountinglocation 115 on the mounting panel 110 and attached to the cable spool120. In other implementations, the crank arm 140 is moved (e.g.,pivoted) from a collapsed position to an access position. The user turnsthe crank arm 140 to rotate the cable spool 120, thereby winding theoptical cable 150.

When the optical cable 150 has been wound on the cable spool 120, theuser may choose to reduce the volume of the optical cable slack storagesystem 106. For example, in some implementations, the user may removethe crank arm 140 from the cable spool 120. In some examples, the usermay position the crank arm 140 at the mounting location 115 on themounting panel 110. In other examples, the user may take the crank arm140 away for use at the next optical cable slack storage system 106. Inother implementations, the user may move the crank arm 140 relative tothe cable spool 120 to the collapsed position. In an example, the crankarm 140 pivots to the collapsed position. In another example, the crankarm 140 telescopically retracts relative to the cable spool 120.

In some implementations, the user can lock the cable spool 120 relativeto the mounting panel 110 in a rotational position. Locking the cablespool 120 inhibits unwinding of the optical cable. In certain examples,the cable spool 120 can be unlocked to enable further rotation of thecable spool 120 relative to the mounting panel 110. In other examples,the user could clamp the cable via a capstan process.

In some implementations, the user can environmentally seal the secondend 155 of the optical cable 150 by positioning a housing 160 over thesecond end 155. In some implementations, the housing 160 attaches to thecable spool 120 and extends over the connector holder 130. In otherimplementations, the housing 160 attaches to the mounting panel 110 andextends over the connector holder 130 and cable spool 120 (see FIG. 5).In certain examples, the housing 160 defines a port through which theoptical cable 150 extends. In certain examples, the housing 160 definesa guide that provides bend radius protection to the optical cable 150 asthe optical cable 150 extends into the housing 160.

In some implementations, the optical cable slack storage system 106 canbe used to store excess length of a drop cable 150 routed to asubscriber premises 105 from a drop terminal 104. For example, the firstend of the optical drop cable 150 can be optically coupled to the dropterminal 104 (e.g., plugged into a port of the drop terminal). Thesecond end 155 of the drop cable 150 can be routed to the subscriberpremises and wound on the cable spool 120 using the crank arm 149.

In some examples, the second end 155 of the drop cable 150 can bedetached from the connector holder 130 and plugged into a networkinterface device (NID) or other such equipment at the subscriberpremises when service is desired. In other examples, a first end of apatch cord can be plugged into the second port 132 of the opticaladapter 130 to optically couple to the drop cable 150. A second end ofthe patch cord can be routed to the NID to optically couple the NID tothe drop cable 150, thereby optically coupling the subscriber to thedrop terminal 104.

In other implementations, the optical cable slack storage system 106 canbe used to store excess length of an optical fiber or cable within abuilding (e.g., a subscriber premises 105, a central office 101, etc.).

Having described the preferred aspects and implementations of thepresent disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosedconcepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it isintended that such modifications and equivalents be included within thescope of the claims which are appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of installing an optical cable at aninstallation location, the optical cable having a first end connected toa network location remote from the installation location, the methodcomprising: routing a second end of the optical cable towards a cablespool disposed at the installation location while the first end isconnected to the network location and before storing any portion of theoptical cable on the cable spool; wrapping the second end of the opticalcable around a portion of the cable spool at the installation location,the cable spool including a drum extending axially outwardly from amounting plate and a first flange extending radially outwardly from thedrum at an opposite end of the drum from the mounting plate, the firstflange having a first surface facing towards the mounting plate and asecond surface facing away from the mounting plate; wrapping the secondend of the optical cable about a notch defined in the first flange ofthe cable spool so that the second end is disposed at an opposite sideof the first flange from the drum before storing slack length of theoptical cable around the drum; attaching the second end of the opticalcable to a connector holder disposed at the second surface of the firstflange before storing slack length of the optical cable around the drum;and turning a crank arm to wind the cable spool, thereby winding theslack length of the optical cable around the drum.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising attaching the crank arm to the cable spool.3. The method of claim 2, further comprising detaching the crank armfrom the mounting panel prior to attaching the crank arm to the cablespool.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein attaching the crank arm to thecable spool includes attaching the crank arm to the drum.
 5. The methodof claim 2, wherein attaching the crank arm to the cable spool includesattaching the crank arm to the first flange.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising moving the crank arm from a collapsed position to anaccess position prior to turning the crank arm, wherein moving the crankarm does not include detaching the crank arm from the cable spool. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein moving the crank arm includes pivotingthe crank arm relative to the cable spool.
 8. The method of claims 1,wherein the connector holder includes an optical adapter having a firstport and an oppositely disposed second port, and wherein attaching thesecond end of the optical cable to the connector holder includesplugging the second end of the optical cable into the first port.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising: plugging a connectorized end of apatch cable into the second port; and routing another end of the patchcable to a subscriber interface device.
 10. The method of claim 8,further comprising: unplugging the second end of the optical cable fromthe first port; unwinding a length of the second end of the opticalcable from the cable spool; and plugging the second end of the opticalcable into the subscriber interface device.
 11. The method of claim 1,further comprising attaching a housing over the cable spool and theoptical cable after the optical cable has been wound onto the cablespool, the housing defining a port through which the optical cable exitsan interior of the housing.
 12. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising removing the crank arm prior to attaching the housing overthe cable spool.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprisingcollapsing the crank arm prior to attaching the housing over the cablespool.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the installation location isan exterior of a subscriber premises, the optical cable is a drop cable,and the network location is a drop terminal.
 15. The method of claim 1,wherein the installation location is an interior of a subscriberpremises and the optical cable includes an optical fiber.
 16. The methodof claim 1, further comprising locking the cable spool in one rotationalposition when the slack length of the optical cable has been wound.